Hashem Sifasai Tiftach cover GOLD merged2
CAN WE TALK? When communication breaks down
Y
ou walk into a restaurant and see a couple seated near you. You notice that they are not talking to each other, she is staring into space as he feverishly sends out one more e –mail on his smart phone. How sad. Jane is in a job interview, it has gone really well and the company seems really excited about her, why is Jane having palpitations about asking how much she is going to be paid? Your roommate doesn’t put stuff away! You find yourself always putting the dishes away and even cleaning up after her. Say something? Oh no- that would be so awkward! You know what they are going to say- what’s the point of mentioning it? He doesn’t want to hear my apology! I was terrible. Anyway, I don’t know where to start. What are the things we don’t talk about? Why don’t we talk about them? Why do we avoid conversations? Sometimes starting the conversation is the hardest thing. Finding the right words is daunting and scary, the beginning of tough conversations sets the tone, affects the whole outcome and could potentially damage any success if not handled right!
HAVE YOU EVER STRUGGLED TO START A CONVERSATION? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REASONS FOR AVOIDING CONVERSATION MIGHT BE?
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 1
ORIGIN OF THIS PRAYER In Shmuel 2 Chapter 11, we find a story about King David. He marries a woman who he should not have; God is furious and sends the Prophet Noson to rebuke King David. After explaining to David his mistake through a vivid parable, David immediately owns up to his sin and seeks out God to repent. His heartbroken record of this even can be found in Psalm 51. Psalms 51 1. For the conductor, a song by David 2. When Noson the prophet came to him when he (sinned) with Batsheva. 3. Show me favor God, according to our kindness according to your vast compassion erase my transgression.
תהלים פרק נא א) ל ְַמנַצֵּ חַ ִמזְ מוֹר לְ דוִ ד :ב) בְ בוֹא־אֵּ ליו נתן הַ נבִ יא כַאֲ ֶׁשר־בא אֶׁ ל־בַ ת־שבַ ע :ֹלהים כְ חַ ְסדֶׁ ָך כְ רֹב ַרחֲ מֶׁ יָך ְמחֵּ ה פְ שעי ִ ֱג) חנֵּנִ י א
יז) אֲ דֹני ְשפ ַתי ִתפְ תח ּופִ י ַיגִיד ְת ִהלתֶׁ ָך
17) God, open my lips, so that my mouth can tell your praise.
Rashi’s Commentary God, open my lips- forgive me and give me an opening to tell your praise.
רש"י תהלים פרק נא מחול לי ויהי לי פתחון פה- יז) אדני שפתי תפתח :להגיד תהלתך
WHAT IS KING DAVID ASKING GOD FOR IN THIS PRAYER? WHAT DOES HE MEAN WHEN HE SAYS AN “OPENING”
Alshich Commentary Open my lips- that You should teach me and help me to pray. And secondly, that you should not ask or request anything of me until you open your mouth in praise.
אלשיך תהלים פרק נא , ועוד שנית.שתלמדני ותעזרני להתפלל- שפתי תפתח שלא תצריכני עד אשאל רק בעוד שפי יגיד תהלתך .בלבד
WHAT DOES THE ALSHICH SUGGEST ABOUT THE WAY WE SHOULD PRAY? WHAT SHOULD WE START WITH?
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 2
USE YOUR WORDS Hoshea Chapter 14 Take your words with you and return to God, say to Him “May You forgive all iniquity and accept our good intentions and let our lips substitute for sacrifices. Radak’s Commentary Take your words with you, I (God) am not asking for your repentance with silver and gold nor sacrifices – only good words that admits your sins and return to God with all your heart, not only with your lips.
הושע פרק יד ג) ְקחּו ִעמכֶׁם ְדב ִרים וְ שּובּו אֶׁ ל־יְקֹ וק ִא ְמרּו אֵּ ליו ל־תשא עוֹן וְ ַקח־טוֹב ּונְ ַשלְ מה פ ִרים ְשפ ֵּתינּו ִ כ
רד"ק הושע פרק יד איני שואל מכם בתשובה לא- ג) קחו עמכם דברים כסף וזהב לא עולות אלא דברים טובים שתתודו בהם עונותיכם ושובו אל ה' בכל לבבכם ולא בשפתים בלבד
WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TALK TO GOD RATHER THAN ANY OTHER METHOD OF SHOWING YOU ARE SORRY?
SAYING PRAISE Mishlei Chapter 27 21) A refining pot is for silver and a crucible for gold, and each man according to his praises.
משלי פרק כז ֹכא) מַ ְצ ֵּרף ַלכֶׁסֶׁ ף וְ כּור לַזהב וְ ִאיש לְ פִ י מַ הֲ ללו:
WHAT IS YOUR INITIAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PHRASE- EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS PRAISES?
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 3
Rabbeinu Yona- Shaarei Teshuva The greatness of a person can be measured by what he praises. If he praised good deeds and wise people and righteous people you can know that he is a good person and is rooted in righteousness.
ספר שערי תשובה לרבינו יונה שער ג אם הוא משבח, מעלות האדם לפי מה שיהלל:ירושו המעשים הטובים והחכמים והצדיקים תדע ובחנת כי איש טוב הוא ושרש הצדק נמצא בו
HOW DOES RABBEINU YONA CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE OF “EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS PRAISES”?
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS Sometimes we feel unable to start a conversation. The lines of communication seem closed, we feel unprepared or embarrassed or inadequate. King David knew this feeling and composed this line to open up communication. The use of words and prayer to communicate with God and come back to Him is the most valuable means of creating and maintaining our relationship. We say God’s praises not to because He needs praise but rather to emphasize what we hold to be important and true.
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 4
Y
ou walk into a restaurant and see a couple seated near you. You notice that they are not talking to each other, she is staring into space as he feverishly sends out one more e –mail on his smart phone. How sad. Jane is in a job interview, it has gone really well and the company seems really excited about her, why is Jane having palpitations about asking how much she is going to be paid? Your roommate doesn’t put stuff away! You find yourself always putting the dishes away and even cleaning up after her. Say something? Oh no- that would be so awkward! You know what they are going to say- what’s the point of mentioning it? He doesn’t want to hear my apology! I was terrible. Anyway, I don’t know where to start. What are the things we don’t talk about? Why don’t we talk about them? Why do we avoid conversations? Sometimes starting the conversation is the hardest thing. Finding the right words is daunting and scary, the beginning of tough conversations sets the tone, affects the whole outcome and could potentially damage any success if not handled right!
HAVE YOU EVER STRUGGLED TO START A CONVERSATION? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REASONS FOR AVOIDING CONVERSATION MIGHT BE?
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 1
ORIGIN OF THIS PRAYER In Shmuel 2 Chapter 11, we find a story about King David. He marries a woman who he should not have; God is furious and sends the Prophet Noson to rebuke King David. After explaining to David his mistake through a vivid parable, David immediately owns up to his sin and seeks out God to repent. His heartbroken record of this even can be found in Psalm 51. Psalms 51 1. For the conductor, a song by David 2. When Noson the prophet came to him when he (sinned) with Batsheva. 3. Show me favor God, according to our kindness according to your vast compassion erase my transgression.
תהלים פרק נא א) ל ְַמנַצֵּ חַ ִמזְ מוֹר לְ דוִ ד :ב) בְ בוֹא־אֵּ ליו נתן הַ נבִ יא כַאֲ ֶׁשר־בא אֶׁ ל־בַ ת־שבַ ע :ֹלהים כְ חַ ְסדֶׁ ָך כְ רֹב ַרחֲ מֶׁ יָך ְמחֵּ ה פְ שעי ִ ֱג) חנֵּנִ י א
יז) אֲ דֹני ְשפ ַתי ִתפְ תח ּופִ י ַיגִיד ְת ִהלתֶׁ ָך
17) God, open my lips, so that my mouth can tell your praise.
Rashi’s Commentary God, open my lips- forgive me and give me an opening to tell your praise.
רש"י תהלים פרק נא מחול לי ויהי לי פתחון פה- יז) אדני שפתי תפתח :להגיד תהלתך
WHAT IS KING DAVID ASKING GOD FOR IN THIS PRAYER? WHAT DOES HE MEAN WHEN HE SAYS AN “OPENING”
Alshich Commentary Open my lips- that You should teach me and help me to pray. And secondly, that you should not ask or request anything of me until you open your mouth in praise.
אלשיך תהלים פרק נא , ועוד שנית.שתלמדני ותעזרני להתפלל- שפתי תפתח שלא תצריכני עד אשאל רק בעוד שפי יגיד תהלתך .בלבד
WHAT DOES THE ALSHICH SUGGEST ABOUT THE WAY WE SHOULD PRAY? WHAT SHOULD WE START WITH?
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 2
USE YOUR WORDS Hoshea Chapter 14 Take your words with you and return to God, say to Him “May You forgive all iniquity and accept our good intentions and let our lips substitute for sacrifices. Radak’s Commentary Take your words with you, I (God) am not asking for your repentance with silver and gold nor sacrifices – only good words that admits your sins and return to God with all your heart, not only with your lips.
הושע פרק יד ג) ְקחּו ִעמכֶׁם ְדב ִרים וְ שּובּו אֶׁ ל־יְקֹ וק ִא ְמרּו אֵּ ליו ל־תשא עוֹן וְ ַקח־טוֹב ּונְ ַשלְ מה פ ִרים ְשפ ֵּתינּו ִ כ
רד"ק הושע פרק יד איני שואל מכם בתשובה לא- ג) קחו עמכם דברים כסף וזהב לא עולות אלא דברים טובים שתתודו בהם עונותיכם ושובו אל ה' בכל לבבכם ולא בשפתים בלבד
WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TALK TO GOD RATHER THAN ANY OTHER METHOD OF SHOWING YOU ARE SORRY?
SAYING PRAISE Mishlei Chapter 27 21) A refining pot is for silver and a crucible for gold, and each man according to his praises.
משלי פרק כז ֹכא) מַ ְצ ֵּרף ַלכֶׁסֶׁ ף וְ כּור לַזהב וְ ִאיש לְ פִ י מַ הֲ ללו:
WHAT IS YOUR INITIAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PHRASE- EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS PRAISES?
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 3
Rabbeinu Yona- Shaarei Teshuva The greatness of a person can be measured by what he praises. If he praised good deeds and wise people and righteous people you can know that he is a good person and is rooted in righteousness.
ספר שערי תשובה לרבינו יונה שער ג אם הוא משבח, מעלות האדם לפי מה שיהלל:ירושו המעשים הטובים והחכמים והצדיקים תדע ובחנת כי איש טוב הוא ושרש הצדק נמצא בו
HOW DOES RABBEINU YONA CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE OF “EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS PRAISES”?
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS Sometimes we feel unable to start a conversation. The lines of communication seem closed, we feel unprepared or embarrassed or inadequate. King David knew this feeling and composed this line to open up communication. The use of words and prayer to communicate with God and come back to Him is the most valuable means of creating and maintaining our relationship. We say God’s praises not to because He needs praise but rather to emphasize what we hold to be important and true.
Shemoneh Esrei
Page 4
